LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 298, 10 September 1908, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

On Friday morning, John William Bishop, alias Brown, will be brought forward for sentence at the Supreme Court on a charge of. having committed theft from a dwelling at Wellington. Our Dunedin correspondent states that Dr. Hqcken, president of' the Otago Institute, says he thinks and hopes, that the Washington Institute's astronomical observatory will bo sot up in the clear atmosphere of Central Otago. When the' crowd had cleared from tho Manawatu railway station yesterday evening, after tho arrival of the late. train, a lifctTo girl was" found without a guardian. The child had booked from Wanganui to Marten, and- had overrun her station. 'i'ho police were communicated with, and the child was eventually found shelter for tho night by the Sanation Army. The rain which filters thfough the roof of tho Lambton Quay police station is having its effect on the old building, to tho discomfiture of the inhabitants. Whilst one of the police officers was shaving in his room about 4 p.m yesterday, a portion of tho plastered ceiling of tho room collapsed and deposited several pounds of damp plaster on the floor of the room. The building is sadly in need of a general overhaul, but it is considered questionable whether it has not gone too far for ropairs. Tho Wellington Cooks' Association has decided to open its new club rooms (tho premises lately occupied by tho Civil Service Club) on Lambton Quay at 8 p.m. on Monday next. His Worship the Mayor will officiate. Tho objects of this association are, according to tho rules, mutual help and assistance in matters concerned with tneir occupation, social intercourse, and improvement of' the status and position of members, tho provision of .reading rooms, billiards, library, chess, draughts, cards, and such other similar amusements as the committee may think fit, and to generally promote tho welfare of mem: hers. Tho annual meeting of the Wellington Master Printers' Union was held last evening, Mr. A. Ferguson presiding over a large attendance. It was decided to join the Wellington Employers' Association, and a new scalo of contributions wm agreed to. The annual report and balance-sheet were read and confirmed. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. A. Ferguson (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs. C. M. Banks, F. Vaughan, and T. Jones; secretary and treasurer, Mr. W. Pr.vor; committee, Messrs. Griffiths, Watkins, Coull, Lewis, Goodor, Douglas, and Cyles; auditors, Messrs. Laubuoar and Grousido,

Last evening his Honour, Mr. Justice Cooper, delivered a lecture on " Guarantee and Suretyship " to the members of tho Wellington Accountant Students' Society. His Honour was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, and agreed to allow tho lecturc to be printed in tho transactions of the society. Tho fire brigade received a call at a quarter past seven last night to Mr. 'L'hos. Faulkner's house, 5 Courtenay Place, where a small outbreak of fire had occurred. Tho lire, which was caused through a candle igniting some curtains, was quickly suppressed, and only did slight damage. The Incorporated Institute of Accountants offers yearly to members of accountant students' societies prizes for essays on subjects connected with accountancy. This year tho subject was " The Advantage of an Audit," and all tbrco prizes were won by members of the Wellington Students' Society—Messrs. H. H. Aheru, W. J. Nagle, and George A. Duncan. Tho Labour Day Celebration. Committee, to tho Trades and Labour' Council, states that at a meeting of the committee, held on September 4, donations from tho unions wero acknowledged. Tho Tramway Engineer intimated that he could make arrangements for tho conveyanco of 5000 people to Miramar during the first two hours. Mr. P. M'Caull was appointed director of sports, with full power, and tho various officers for tho day were also elected. The PostaJ Department advises that a telephone office is now open at Mine Creek in the Westport district, and also a bureau. The hours of attendance are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and telegrams aro delivered regularly. The office is closcd on Sundays and holidays. A new telephone offico has also been opened at Mangamutu, Wellington district. Tho hours aro the same, but thero is no delivery. Tho Pahiatua railway station is now only a reociving office for telegrams. A special meeting of tho Wellington Gas Company, Ltd., was held at the Chamber of Commerco yesterday morning. Mr. D. J. Nathan, chairman of directors, moved, and Mr. H. Beauchamp seconded, that tho resolutions adopted at a meeting oil August 19, increasing the capital of the _ company to £400,000 by tho creation of additional capital to the amount of £200,000, be confirmed. The motion was carried. Tho full text of tho resolutions was published in The Dominion at the time. On Saturday the combined shipping companies of Wellington will play a football match against a team from the local branch of the Union Company at Miramar. The fixture is an annual one, and elaborate preparations have been made for tho match and tho smoke concert, which will follow in the evening. Tho Union Co.'s steamer Terawhiti has been kindly lent, to convey the teams and invited guests to Miramar, and will leaveher berth behind the Customs Buildings at 2.15 p.m. sharp on Saturday. At the meeting of the Yorkshire Society held at Godber's Rooms last night, Mr. H. Field lectured ou a Yorkshiremau's experiences in Paris. Mr. Field's address was most interesting, covering the sights and scenes of tho French capital, and was replete with vivid s descriptions and shrewd observations of the life and people. A vote of thanks was heartily accorded to Mr. Field, and in view of his early removal to Auckland- and the great support ho has given to tho society in Wellington, Mr. Field was unanimously elected a life member. • . Yachtsmen are bestirring themselves in preparation for tho approaching season, and aro making an effort to have the To. Aro Boat Harbour made of more service to followers of the sport than it was last year. It is stated that the Harbour Board promised to dredgo inside the Boat Harbour, which has silted up, and yachtsmen are wondering when the dredging operations aro to commence. It is stated that practically every shed at tho harbour is leaking, and an effort will probably bo made to have the defects 'remedied beforo tho sailing season commences. "I was rather disappointed with the Now Zealand court at the Franco-British Exhibition," 'said"Mr. ,W..''K Tisdall to an interviewer yesterday. ."Canada'and the Commonwealth havo magnificent displays, which quite put New Zealand in the shade. New Zealand has a special building, but though all tho Australian States aro iu one building, the exhibit of any one of them was better than that of New Zealand. I made a few inquiries, and found that tho money grant was limited. It was a great pity, as it seemed a great chance for New Zealand to score. Most of tho buildings were titivated with flower-bods outside, as in tho caso of Canada and the Commonwealth, but tho New Zealand court was gravel to the walls. The attention, however, was very good, and crowds wero visiting the court to gain information about the Dominion." In November last an industrious burglar, with a fine local knowledge, _ hewed his way through a solid brick wall into the strong room of the Karori Borough Council's office, and purloined cash and cheques to the valuo of over £600. Since that day to this nothing has been made public in regard to the affair, but thero is circumstantial evidence pointing to tho culprit being a person who had a full and complete knowledge of the premises operated upon, and who is now said to be prospering in another part of tho world. Tho police suspected this person from the outset, and took action, but wero unable to find sufficient- evidence'on .which to base an arrest. None of the cheques were ever cashed, and nothing of an incriminating nature was found during a search of tho suspect's quarters. Tho amount of cash-lost by tho borough through this daring exploit was about £320. ; Theatre-goers unconsciously pass a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. J. C. Williamson for tho first tangible evidence, of . his intention to improve the Opera House under leaso to "tho firm." This is occasioned by the very handsome old gold plush curtain that has replaced the dingy red affair that has collected the dust of the auditorium for the past dozen years. The now drop curtain has the glorious sheen of new sovereigns, and when its nap catches tho glow of tho footlights, it shimmers gorgeously. The golden knotted fringe is deep enough for a ballet-dancer's skirt, and adds finish to tho plush- drop. Mr. Roylo states that the act drop consumed 480 yards of plush, and though they tried to buy the material in Australasia (they oven made enquiries in New* Zealand), enough of tho one shade was unobtainable, so it .had to bo ordered from England. If Mr.' Williamson would kindly send over an artist to paint out the scene on tho fireproof curtain, and substitute for it something nearer to art, ho would be showing, a delicate attention to tho acsthcticallyinclined of his patrons. "People havo an-idea out here that everything is so much better at Homo than in tho colonies," said Mr. W. H. Tisdall, who returned from an extended stay in England by tho lonic ou Tuesday. "They are mistaken in quite a number of instances. Talco the shops, for instance. Tho shops of Wellington aro much better; on the whole, than tlie.v aro in tho provincial 'towns of England with five or six times the population of Wellington. Take my town, Birmingham, with its half a million inhabitants— tho shops thero are not nearly so fine as in Wellington, and what is more, you don't get the selection you do hero. Tho roason is not far to seek. The provincial shopkeepers aro so near to tho manufacturers that they do not care, nor is there tho need,i to .carry heavy stocks, and for the same reason tho choico or variety of goods is inferior at Home. Don't you make any mistake, the colonies are right up-to-date, and aro supplied with tho latest as soon as English provincial towns are. Out here they go for anything new, but they move slowlyin provincial England." A- specialty of Kair and Scalp Treatment is made by Mrs. Kolleston. Ladies troubled with falling liair, dandruff, or any scalp complaint should call for advice (gratis) at her rooms, first floor, 3 Willis Street, over Carroll's, or telephone appointment 1599. Personal attention only. Certificated. C 739 Thonien of New Zealand aro becoming fjreat tea-drinkers, and aro now rather fastidious. Thero was a time when tliev took anything in the way of tea offered by the womenfolk, but now they want palato pleasure—they want Crescent Brand Tea oi'ery tin-je. This blended tea has distinguished qualities, for it is a happy combination ol'-tho strong teas of Da'rjcelinK and the lino delicate teas of Ceylon. CBSB Tho Mission Band will play at the Basin Rosorvo this evening.